Ourika Valley lies south of Marrakesh in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, following the Ourika River through a narrow valley of villages, orchards, terraced fields, and steep mountain slopes. The valley is known for its relatively cool climate and access to the Atlas foothills, making it a marked contrast to the dry plains around Marrakesh. Small settlements extend along the river and up the surrounding slopes, where traditional houses are often built from earth and stone.
Wadi Rum, often called the “Valley of the Moon,” is a desert landscape in southern Jordan renowned for its dramatic sandstone mountains, sweeping red sand dunes, and ancient history carved into the rock. Its vast, otherworldly scenery has made it both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a backdrop for films set on distant planets.
Beyond its historical sites, Jordan's natural landscapes offer a diverse range of experiences. The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth's surface, is renowned for its buoyant waters and therapeutic mud, attracting visitors seeking relaxation and wellness. To the south, Wadi Rum's dramatic desert scenery, with its towering sandstone mountains and vast red dunes, provides a backdrop for adventure activities like jeep tours, camel rides, and stargazing.
Anglesey is an island off the northwest coast of Wales with a history that stretches back thousands of years. Fertile lands and strategic coastal position made it an early center for agriculture, livestock, and maritime trade.
In ancient times, Kaanapali was a royal retreat for the rulers of Maui, who delighted in the perfect three-mile stretch of white sand beach, the gentle waves, warm sunny days and the majestic West Maui Mountains. Maui royalty surfed, raced their outrigger canoes, feasted at luaus that lasted for weeks, and where the Kaanapali Golf Course now blankets the land, they played ulu maika, a form of lawn bowling with heavy lava balls.
Russia attracts thousands of tourists each year who have a taste for cathedrals and monasteries, fine art, theater, museums, and the Russian culture in general. Natives are generally friendly and hospitable. Currency is not a problem, most tourist businesses accept US dollars.